MEMPHIS, Tennessee (Ticker) -- In a matchup of the worst teams
in the Western Conference, Jason Williams and Pau Gasol of the
Memphis Grizzlies were the best players on the court.

Williams collected 22 points and a franchise-record 19 assists
and Gasol scored 26 points the Grizzlies held on for an 105-99
victory over the Golden State Warriors.

"It was great to win," Williams said. "It really would not
have mattered if we didn't get the win. We got the win and
we'll take them any way we can around here."

"Jason played the game he always plays," Memphis forward
Lorenzen Wright added. "He did what he does best and that is
pass the ball. He gets us up and down the court and he's
always looking for somebody."

With both teams bound for the NBA draft lottery, Williams and
Gasol picked apart the Warriors' defense and led five Memphis
players in double figures.

The assists also were a career high for Williams, who broke
Mike Bibby's club record of 18.

Gasol made 12-of-18 shots from the field and had 16 points in
the third quarter. The Grizzlies outscored Golden State, 17-8,
over the first six minutes of the period to open a 68-57 lead.

"Jason and the other guys were looking at me every time we came
down the court," Gasol said. "They gave me a lot of great
shots in the paint. I was feeling good. Everybody was
communicating and working together."

The Spanish rookie also helped Memphis secure just its second
win in nine games. After a free throw by Chris Mills pulled
the Warriors within 99-96 with 80 seconds left in the fourth
quarter, Wright hit a jumper and Gasol took a pass from
Williams for an easy hook shot with 30 seconds to play.

"The will to win is always there," Memphis coach Sidney Lowe
said. "Our guys were determined to finish it and not give it
away."

In a game featuring some of the league's top rookies, Warriors
guard Jason Richardson nearly brought his team all the way back
from a 16-point deficit. He scored nine of his 14 points in
the final 5:14 but missed a running jumper with 26 seconds left
that would have made it 103-101.

Golden State was without top rebounder Danny Fortson, who is
serving his second two-game suspension in as many weeks. His
absence clearly was felt as the Warriors were beaten on the
glass and outscored in the paint, 68-56.

Fortson is third in the NBA with 12.0 rebounds per game. But
he ran his flagrant foul points to eight in Friday's loss to
Detroit. Rookie Troy Murphy filled in and pulled down 12
boards.

"We miss Danny," Warriors forward Antawn Jamison said. "He is
a big part of this team. It always hurts when you lose a
player like him. This is the NBA though and you have to play
no matter what."

"There are not too many highlights for us tonight," Golden
State coach Brian Winters added. "We are somewhat tired, but
that is no excuse and this is still the NBA."

Reserve Bob Sura led five Warriors in double figures with 18
points, while Jamison added 16.